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Video: Scientists watch orcas ram a sunfish so hard it explodes
Researchers have documented two cases in which orcas cooperatively rammed dead sharp-tail sunfish, breaking the carcasses into clouds of fragments. The newly described behaviour matters because it may represent a previously unrecorded way for orcas to process large prey and make it easier for younger animals to eat. The incidents occurred in the Gulf of…
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European researchers want to study social media’s harms but can’t get the data
European researchers say they are struggling to obtain social-media data needed to investigate disinformation, platform harms and political influence, despite EU rules intended to grant vetted academics access. The issue matters because limited access can prevent independent scrutiny of how platforms recommend, monetise or moderate content during major events such as elections. The article highlights…
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How AI guardrails are impeding the work of offensive cybersecurity researchers
AI companies’ safety controls, designed to prevent models being used for cyberattacks, are increasingly being criticised by legitimate offensive security researchers and defenders. They argue that the same capabilities needed to test, reproduce and understand vulnerabilities can also be used maliciously, making a clear separation between “offensive” and “defensive” use impractical. The debate follows US…
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Heatwave anxiety can make you feel ‘incredibly helpless’ – here’s how to manage it
Heatwaves can intensify climate anxiety, leaving people feeling helpless and fearful, particularly when they worry about children’s safety. The BBC highlights how repeated extreme weather may make people anticipate further danger, turning concern about climate change into significant mental distress. One Cheltenham mother said temperatures above 30C in her children’s bedrooms left her unable to…
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Scientists find building blocks of birdsong’s ‘spectacular diversity’
Scientists in France have found that the vast variety of birdsong can be described using eight basic sound types, offering a simpler framework for studying how birds communicate. The research matters because it links song structure to the environments in which birds evolved and may help scientists assess how human-made noise affects wildlife. Using AI…
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FDA panel votes to add peptides to permitted compounding list despite opposition from agency scientists
An FDA advisory panel voted to recommend adding several peptides to the list of substances that US compounding pharmacies may use, despite FDA scientists’ objections. The recommendation could make prescription access easier for products promoted for areas such as recovery, inflammation and wound treatment, but it does not itself approve the peptides or make them…
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Researchers replace downloaded macOS apps with evil twins, Apple shrugs
Researchers Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk say they found a flaw in macOS Gatekeeper that can allow a previously downloaded and opened app to be replaced with a malicious “evil twin” without triggering a new security warning. The issue matters because users may continue to trust familiar applications while attackers use the altered version…
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Scientists develop handheld device for measuring when your body is burning fat
Researchers have developed a handheld breathalyser designed to show when the body is burning fat for energy, known as ketosis. The device measures acetone in a user’s breath and, in a small study, produced results close to conventional laboratory tests, potentially making metabolic monitoring more accessible outside clinical settings. The study involved 12 participants across…
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Study finds spike in delivery app drivers, Amazon workers receiving federal benefits
A US Government Accountability Office study found a sharp rise in Amazon employees and app-based delivery and ride-hailing drivers receiving Medicaid or food assistance. The findings matter because they highlight how many people in major, growing sectors still rely on public support despite being in work, fuelling debate over pay, job security and employer-provided benefits.…